Billionaire tech mogul, Bill Gates has admitted that his divorce from Melinda French Gates is the "biggest regret" of his life, calling the split "miserable" for both of them.
In a candid interview with The Times of London, the 69-year-old Microsoft co-founder opened up about the fallout of their separation after 27 years of marriage. Gates revealed that the divorce left him and Melinda “miserable for at least two years” and described it as the one mistake that still haunts him.
Gates didn’t shy away from acknowledging the imbalance in their marriage, particularly when it came to parenting their three children. He admitted that despite his efforts, Melinda shouldered the lion’s share of raising their kids.
“When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful—that came during the time that we were together. So, she saw me through a lot,” he said. “I spent more time with the kids than my dad did, but the ratio was still 10:1, with Melinda doing most things for the kids.”
The tech tycoon also expressed his disappointment over Melinda’s decision to step down from their philanthropic venture, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, following their split. “When we got divorced it was tough, and then she made the decision to leave the foundation,” he said.
The divorce, finalized in 2021, marked the end of a union that began in 1994 when the pair tied the knot in Hawaii. The couple first met in 1987 when Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager. Together, they founded their world-renowned nonprofit in 2000, aiming to combat poverty and disease globally.
Despite their separation, Gates insists they’ve maintained a family bond. “Melinda and I still spend time together as a family. We have three children and two grandchildren, so there are always family events. The kids are doing well and have strong values.”
The former couple shares three children, Jennifer, 28; Rory, 25; and Phoebe, 22. While Melinda, 60, has opted for a quieter life since stepping down from the foundation in May 2024, Gates has since moved on and is now dating Paula Hurd, widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd.
Although Gates claims to be "more cheerful now," his public reflection on the divorce raises questions about whether even billionaires can truly have it all, or whether some mistakes leave scars that wealth and power can’t erase.
